Bottle corking and capping machine



J. BRANDSTETTER.

BOTTLE CORKING AND CAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. I2, $921.

Patent-ed Jan. 3, 1922.

I r V l J'OSEF BRANDSTETTER, OF CHICAGO; ILLINOIS.

BOTTLE CORKING AND CAPPING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 3, 1922.

Application filed October 12, 1921. Serial No. 507,391.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ,Josnr BRANDsrnrrER,

. citizen of the United States, residin at Chicago, in the county of. Cook and tate clare the following to be a full, clear, and

exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in. the art to which it fippertains to make and use the same.

y invention relates to means for affixing closures to bottles and in one aspect aims to provide a convenient and easily operable machine which can be used with equal facility either for stopping bottles with corks or for afiixing closure caps to V the mouths of bottles. For this purpose, my

invention aims to provide a machine in which the same plunger and plunger-operating mechanism can be employed with equal facility for both of the said purposes, aims to provide an arrangement which can speedily be interchanged as to such purposes without using any tools, and aims to keep the special parts for'each of these purposes out of the way when the machine is used for the other purpose. Furthermore, it aims to provide easily manipulated means for adjusting the machine to bottles of varying heights and for supporting the bottles in proper alinement with the closureafiixing portions of the mechanism.

In a more particular aspect, my invention aims to provide an easily operated bottle corking machine which will facilitate the inserting of the corks, which will effectively compress the entering end of each cork before presenting the same tothe mouth of the bottle, which willautomatically retract the cork guiding and compressing means as soon as the cork has been inserted to a predetermined extent, but which will prevent an undesirable slamming during the said retraction. Furthermore, it aimsto gage the extent of insertion of the cork automatically from the mouth end of the bottle irrespective of the length of the cork, and aims to facilitate the alining of the-cork guide with the cork-inserting plunger. 7

In another of its more detailed aspects, my invention aims to provide a bottle closing machine having "a head adjustably mounted to adapt the same' to bottles of varying heights, and aims to provide simple means for keeping this head in proper operative position regardless of the height at wh1ch it is disposed. It also aims to provide this head both with a cork inserting plunger and means for actuating the plunger; aims to provide a movably mounted cork compressing guide yieldingly supported by the head, and aims to provide a cap-afiixing head adapted to be secured to the same plunger when the machine is to be used in connection with sealing caps. Still further and more detailed objects will appear from the following specification and from. the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is an elevation of a machine embody ng my invention showing the same with a bottle positioned for inserting a cork into its neck.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged and fragmentary vertical section taken through the axes of the supporting stem and of the plunger of Fig. 1 and showing the parts as they appear when the cork is being inserted.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken along the correspondingly numbered line in Fig. 2 and showing the operating connection between the shaft of the handle and the plunger.

Fig. 4 is an elevation somewhat similar to Fig; 1, but showing the machine as it appears when it is to be used for aiiixing a sealing cap to a bottle.

Fig. 5 is a central and vertical section through the lower'end of the plunger when the cap-affixing head is attached to the same as shown in Fi 4.

In the embodiment of the drawings, the machine of my invention includes a base 1 having a top portion on which the bottle may be set and having a substantially semicircular guard 2 adapted to center a bottle 3 in predetermined position. Supported by the base 1 is astandard or riser 4 which extends through a vertical bore in a crosshead 5, this cross-head being clamped to the stem 4 at any desired height by a screw 6 having a handle end affording considerable leverage. The cross-head 1 also has another vertical bore having its axis spaced from that of the stem 4 by a distance corresponding to the spacing between the axis of the said standard and the axis of the bottle 3.- Extending slidably through this second vertical bore is a plunger 7 equipped on one side with a series of teeth 8 affordin a rack for engaging a pinion 9, which pinion is pivoted on the cross-head 5 on a horizontal axis and which has a handle 10 fastened to the same, so that the plunger can be moved up and down by using the handle 10 to rotate the pinion 9. This plunger alines with the axis ofa bottle set on the base concentric with the guard, the cross-head bemg kept in the proper direction for thus overhanging the base by having the tip of the screw 6 enter a groove 31 in the riser.

The cross-head 5 has a downward extension '11 terminating in a lower arm 12 which also is boredto have the standard 4 extend through the same and which acts as a support for a spiral compression spring 13. This compression spring contmuously exerts an upwardly directed pressure on the upper one of two vertically spaced arms 14 and 15 which are slidable on the stem 4 and which are both fastened to a tubular cork guide 16. This cork guide is desirably made of brassand integral with the arms 14 and 15, which arms together with the tubular guide form the guide member. It also'preferably has a main bore which tapers downwardly and which has its upper end larger in diameter than the normal size of the corks which are to be used with the bottles, while its lower end is contracted to a diameter corres onding to (or slightly smaller than) that o the neck of the bottle. The cork guide 16 also has a downwardly flaring extension 17 at its lower end which is cupped out substantially as shown in Fig. 2, so that it will readily seat on the mouth of the bottle to center the bottle with respect plunger is raised clear of the top of the to the cork guide.

In using my machine as above described for afiixinga cork to a bottle 3, I first clamp the cross-head 5 to the standard 4 at a height which will cause the cap 17 of the guide to clear the top of the bottle, thereby permitting the ready insertion and withdrawal of the bottles which are to be corked. Next, I swing the cross-head out of alinement with the plunger 7 (this being .done while the gulde by suitably turning the handle 10) and drop a cork 18 into the upper end of the guide 16, the cork being desirably moistened in advance so as to facilitate the compress ing of the same. I then swing the cork guide into position for .alining with the bottle and the plunger, after which I turn the handle so as to move the plunger downward and force the cork 18 into the neck of the bottle. In doing this, the tapering bore of the guide 16 compresses the cork as the latter is being forced downward within the guide, and the friction of the cork while being compressed causes the movement of the plunger to force the guide downwardly against the resistance of the spring 13. (on

' in the lengths of the corks.

sequently, the upper portion 17 of the guide v movement of the plunger is continued, the

latter then forces the cork 18 into the neck of the bottle. However, as soon as the top of the cork clears the lower end of the tapering main bore of the guide 16 or reaches the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the friction of the cork on the guide is released and the spring 13 immediately returns theguide member to the raised position shown in Fig. 1, thereby leaving ample room for the ready withdrawal of the bottle, and also signaling to the operator that the movement of the handle is to be discontinued. The movement of the handle is then reversed so as to raise the plunger entirely above the top of the guide, after which the guide member is swung to one side upon its pivotal mounting on the standard 4 for inserting a fresh cork and the operation is repeated with the next bottle.

By employing a spring in this manner for yieldingly supporting the guide I automatically adjust the guide for variations in the heights of the bottles, so that the operator does not need to pay any attention to these variations within reasonable ranges, and I also facilitate the insertion andwithdrawal of the bottles. However, an undue compression of the spring might causean undesirable slamming action on the machine during the raising of the guide member, hence I desirably. provide a spacer tube 22 surrounding the riser portion within the spring but shorter than the normal length of the spring, so that this tube limits the compressing of the spring. Likewise, since the cup 17 engages the mouth of each bottle and since the compression of the spring is automatically released whenever the top of the cork reaches the upper end of the bore of the cup, the extent of insertion of the cork is automatically gaged from the top of the bottle. I therefore secure a uniform stopping of the bottles regardless of variations .To expedite the alining of the tubular cork guide with the plunger whenever a fresh cork has been inserted, I preferably provide means for limiting the return swinging movement of the guide member about the standard 4, as by providing this member with a finger 21 adapted to engage the part 11 of the crosshead member as shown in Fig. 2.

When the machine is to be used for afiixing closure caps of the kind comprising metal caps lined with cork, I swing the cork guide out of the way as shown in 4 and attach a cap-affixing head 19 to the lower end of the plunger 7 by means of a thumb 20 ably terminate the rack 8 somewhat below the screw 20. Then I set the bottle in position as before,slip. a loose cap over its mouth and depress the plunger by rotating the handle 10in the usual manner. By thus employing the same bottle support, plunger and plunger-actuating mechanism also for aflixing sealing caps, I rovide a machine which is equally adaptab e regardless of the kind of the bottle closures which are to be used, the change being made instantly and without the use of tools by merely manipulating the thumb screw 20.

Furthermore, it will readily be seen from the drawings that b loosening the handled screw 6, I can rea ily adjust my machine for bottles of widely varying heights, and it will also be seen from the drawings that the entire arrangement is simple, inexpensive and easily manipulated. To avoid an excessive dropping of the plunger 7 I desirtfip of the plunger as shown in the drawings.

owever, while I have illustrated and described my invention in a desirable embodiment, I do not wish to be limited to the details of the construction and arrangement as here disclosed, it being obvious that these might be modified in many ways without departing from the spirit of my invention or from the appended claims. Neither do I wish to be limited to such a twofold use of the machine of my invention, it being obvious for example that, the cork-aflixing arrangement as above disclosed could be employed equally well if the machine were not provided with acap-aflixing head for attachment to its plunger.

I claim as my invention:

1. A combined bottle capping and corking machine including a plunger having a detachable cap-aflixing head, a cork guide movable into and out of a position in which the plunger may be projected through the guide after the head has been detached, and yielding means permitting limited downward movement of the cork guide.

2. A combined bottle capping and corking machine comprising a support arranged for holding a bottle, a plunger movable upon the support in axial alinement with the bottle, a cap-aflixin head attachable to the plunger, and a cor guide mounted on the support for movement both longitudinally and transversely of the axis of the bottle, the cork guide including a bore through which the plunger can force a cork.

3. A bottle stopper comprising a base for supporting a bottle, a standard having a head overhanging the base, a vertically movable plunger carried by the said head in substantially axial alinement with a bottle supported by the base and a tubular stopper guide pivoted upon the riser for movement transversely of the axis of the plunger, the

said guide being cupped at its lower end for centering itself upon the mouth of the bottle, and yielding means normally holding the said guide above the mouth of the bottle.

4. An appliance as per claim 1, in combination with a cap aflixing socket adapted to be secured to the lower end of the plunger when the. stopper guide is moved out of its normal position about its pivotal mounting,

whereby the same plunger can 'be used in of the guide in one direction.

6. A combined bottle capping and corking machine comprising a support arranged for holding a bottle, a plunger movable upon the support in axial alinement with the bottle, a cap-aifixing head attachable to the plunger, a cork guide mounted on the support for movement both longitudinally and transversely of the axis of the bottle, the cork guide including a bore through which the plunger can force a cork, and spring means associated with the guide and resistin movement thereof longitudinally of the said axis toward the bottle by the frictional engagement of the cork with the guide.

7 A combined bottle capping and corking machine comprising a support arranged. for holding a bottle, a plunger movable upon the support in axial alinement with the bottle, a cap-aflixing head attachable to the plunger, a cork guide mounted on the support for movement both longitudinally and transversely of the axis of the bottle, the cork guide including a bore through which the plunger can force a cork, and means for limiting the said transverse movement of the guide in one direction to a position in which the said bore is in axial alinement with the bottle. 1

8. A bottle stopper comprising a base for supporting a bottle, a standard having a head overhanging the base, a vertically movable plunger carried by the said head in substantially axial alinement with a bottle supported by the base, a tubular stopper guide pivoted upon the standard .for movement transversely of the axis of the plunger and cupped at its lower end for centerin itself upon the mouth of the bottle, the said head and stopper guide having relatively engageable portions for limiting the movement of the guide in one direction about its said pivotal mounting to a position in which the said cupped portion is in axial alinement' with the plunger.

9. A bottle corking machine comprising a base, a standard carried thereby and having a head overhanging the base, a plunger vertically slidable through the head, and a stopper guide supported by the standard and havin a vertical cork-feedingbore and mounted or movement transversely of the plunger.

10. A bottle corking machine comprising a base, a standard carried thereby and having a head overhanging the base, a plunger vertically slidable through the head, and a stopper guide supported by the standard and having a vertical cork-feeding bore and mounted for movement transversely of the plunger, and single means for simultaneously adjusting the height of the head and the stopper guide above the base, and a spring associated with the mounting of the stopper guide and yieldingly supporting the latter.

11. A bottle corking machine comprising a base, a riser carried thereby, a head adjustably mounted on the riser and overhanging the base and having an integral arm extending below the head proper, a spring surrounding a portion of the riser and supported by the said arm, a stopper guide pivoted upon the riser and supported by the spring, and a plunger extending Vertically through the head and adapted to extend through a bore in the stopper guide when the latter is swung to a predetermined position about its pivotal mounting.

12. A bottle corking machine comprising a base, a riser carried thereby, a head adj ustably mounted on the riser and overhanging the base and having an integral arm extending below the head proper, a spring sur* rounding a portion of the riser and supported by the said arm, a stopper guide pivoted upon the riser and supported by the spring, and a plunger extending vertically through the head and adapted to extend through a bore in the stopper guide when the latter is swung to a predetermined position about its pivotal mounting,

the stopper guide having a finger engaging the said arm to determine the said position.

13. A bottle corking machine comprising a base, a riser carried thereby, a head adjustably mounted on the riser and overhanging the base and having an integral arm extend ing below the head proper, a spring 'surrounding a portion of the riser and supported by the said arm, a stopper guide pivoted upon the riser and supported by the spring, and a plunger extending vertically through the 7 head and adapted to extend through a bore in the stopper guide when the latter is swung to a predetermined position about its pivotal mounting, and means interposed between the said guide and arm for limiting the downward movement of the guide against the resistance of the spring.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, October 6th, 1921.

J OSEF BRA NDSTETTER. 

